Air-actuated railway-fender.



No. 896,212. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

S. S. JOHNSON & H. A. THOMPSON. AIR AOTUATED RAILWAY FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1907.

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ATTORNEY No. 896,212. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908, S. S. JOHNSON & H. A. THOMPSON.

AIR AGTUATED RAILWAY FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. e, 1907.

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SMITH S. JOHNSON AND HENRY A. THOMPSON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

AIR-ACTUATED RAILWAY-FENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SMITH S. JOHNSON and HENRY A. THOMPSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Actuated Railway-Fem ders', of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to car-fenders intended especially for use upon street-cars provided with air-brake appliances; and its object is to provide apparatus whereby the fender may be carried in its elevated unem ployed position, as is desirable in city and suburban trafiic, and from such a condition is, in emergency, operated by the motorman in actuating the controlling valve of the brake appliances in applying the latter when effecting what is known as emergency application. The only attention required of the motorman being in manipulating the particular valve which controls the power cylinder when the fender is to be elevated into its normal inoperative positionl Under the above mentioned conditions it is apparent that the danger of the operator becoming confused is reduced to a minimum as through frequent use of the brake devices he applies the latter almost involuntarily to stop the motion of the car when approaching an object on the track, whereupon the fender when connected according to this-inven tion is simultaneously lowered.

The invention consists in the novel con struction, adaptation and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, where similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of a railway car embodying our invention; Fig. 2,

an underside plan View of the same; Fig. 3,

an enlarged detached view of the fender controlling valve, somewhat diagrammatic, with the caslng cover thereof partly broken away;

I and Fig. 4., a cross sectional view taken through 44 of Fig. 3.

The reference numeral 5 designates a carbody which is provided with an air-reservoir 6 connected by suitably disposed piping with the controlling valve, represented by 7, havlng an operating lever-handle 8 Which swings 7 in a longitudinal plane. All of the aforesaid parts are, or may be, as ordinary where airbrakes are employed. The fender 9,'whi1e it may be of any suitable shape, is desirably formed with a frame having tubular members which extend downwardly at the rear, as at 9, and whereto the operative parts are connected. The fender is tiltably hinged intermediate its depth, as at 10, to the car and is normally held in its most elevated position by helical springs 11 acting between the car and fender above said hinge connection, or by leaf-springs 12 actingtherebelow, or both may be conjointly used as illustrated in the drawings. At or near the lower outer corners of the fender it is connected by drag chain 13 which passesabout fair-leader pulleys 14 and are connected by a link 15, including a spring 15, with a vibratory lever 16 which is fulcrumed to a support 17 depending from the body 5. The arm 16 opposite to that with which the aforesaid connection is had is connected by a pin 18 with the rod 19 of a piston 19 which is slidably fitted within a stationary power cylinder 20. The extremity of the lever arm 16 is desirably seated in a guide frame 21 and an elongated aperture 16 may advantageously be employed in the arm to receive said pin to compensate for the lateral play of the latter from the swinging of the lever. Communication is had between the said air-reservoir and the back end of the cylinder through pipes 22 and 23 of which the former also serves to connect the air-reservoir with the air-brake controlling valve 7.

Included within the pipe system are devices for controlling the action of the fender through the medium of the aforesaid power cylinder, and which will now be explained.

Reference being had to Figs. 3 and 4, 24 represents the containing case which is provided with upper and lower cylindrical chambers 25 and 27 with an intermediate chamber 26, which are in axial alinement with each other and the chamber 25 is of considerably greater diameter than is 26. The casing has a detachable cover 24 forming a head for the chamber 25 and a removable closure 24 for the chamber 27. Respectively fitted within the chambers 25 and 26 are pistons 28 and 29, and, that they will move in unison, are fixedly connected to a spindle 3O whichis prolonged to enter a guide cavity 31 in the end 24'. Fixedly connected to this spindle is a valve 32 arranged to contact with a seat 32 when the piston 28 has reached the limit of its upward travel or in juxtaposition with a disk 33 which is rotatably fitted within the upper end of the chamber 25 and contacts with the casing cover 24. The valve 32 is normally held against its seat 32', to close the connection between the chambers 26 and 27, by a helical spring 34 which may advantageously be interposed between the piston 28 and the bottom of its chamber, as shown in Fig. 4. Disk 33 is provided with an axially disposed stem 33 extending through the cover 24 and carrying upon its outer end a radially directed arm 35 which terminates in a rectangular bent portion 35. The reservoir pipe 22 is respectively connected through branches 22 and 22" with the chamber 27, and a passage 22 extending to a cavity 36 in the cover 24, while the cylinder pipe 23 is connected with the chamber 26 and likewise by passage 37 with a cavity 38 in the said cover. Another cavity 39 is provided in the cover which is connected by a passage 40 with the lower end of the cylinder 25. The control of the flow of the power medium through the various aforesaid passages to ac complish the movements of the fender is at-- tained by providing in the disk 33 a recess 41 of such width as to make communicative connection, when in one position, between the cavities 38 and 39 and also when revolved through the turning of the valve into another in the first mentioned of its two positions,-

and furthermore, the aperture 44 is arranged in such relation that it will register with the cavity 36 when the recess 41 makes operative connection between the exhaust aperture 42 and the passage 40 through the intervening cavity 39. The movements of the disk are limited by stops and 45 positioned. upon opposite sides of the arm 35 and spaced at such a distance apart as to accommodate the aforesaid air connections. -46 is an exhaust port in the chamber 26 adapted to be closed y the piston 29 when the same approaches the end of its downward stroke.

We illustrate the apparatus in what may be deemed its released condition wherein the fender is maintained in its poised condition through the offices of the springs 11 and 12,

- and the opposing air actuated power devices are inoperative through the intercepting of the passage of the compressed air from the reservoir pipe 22 with the cylinder pipe 23 by reason of the valve 32 being held against its seat 32 from the resilient action of the spring 34. In such an assumed condition the disk 33 is in the position shown with its operating arm 35 against the stop 45.

To cause the fender to .be lowered the arm 35 is turned inthe direction of .,the..ar row 0,

Fig. 3, which changes the position of the disk 33 to bring its aperture 44 1n,register with the cavity 36 and allow of the admission of the,

compressed air from the reservoir into the chamber 25 to act against the piston 28 and move the piston 29 to close the exhaust port 46 and also unseat the valve 32' to allow the egress of the power medium through the pipe 23 to the cylinder 20 whereby the piston is thrust outwardly and serves through the interposing lever, link and chain totilt the fender downwardly into the position indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1.

When the disk has been moved into the changed position as above explained, it effects the communication between the external atmosphere, through the exhaust opening 42, depression 41 and the passage 40,-

with the chamber 25 below piston 28 to allow the air within such space escaping so as not to obstruct the downward movement of this piston.

In practice the arm 35 is turned to accomplish its function as just described by the engagement of its end 35 with the tail end 8 of the valve handle 8 when the latter is swung about in manipulating the valve 7 in making an emergency application of the brakes, while it willnot be affected thereby when a service application of the brakes is made through the fact that the arm 35 is arranged to be only engaged when the handle 8 is swung into its most extreme position corresponding with the emergency application according to the general practice. When the fender is to be raised to its normal position the arm 35 is manipulated to return it to its original position and thereby return the disk 33 to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by which communication is established between the upper end of chamber 25 and the external atmosphere through the registering of the apertures 43 and 44 of the cover and disk re spectively and the previous closure of the intake passage 22 through the shutting off of its connecting cavity 36 by the imperforate portion of the disk. Meanwhile the recess 41 is shifted from hole 42 and presented to both the cavities 38 and 39 wherethroughtogether with the communicating passages 37 and 40 and chamber 26, air under pressure is introduced beneath the piston 28 and the latter forced upwardly to accomplish the seating ofthe valve to intercept any further admission of the compressed air beyond this valve as well as the opening of the port 46 for the reduction of the pressure within the power cylinder and in the chambers 25 and 26 to that of the atmosphere. When the pressure which has been acting against the piston 19 has been thus lessened the power of the springs 11 and 12 assert themselves to raise the fender, in a most reliable and rapid manner. r 7 While the foregoing description is thought to make the invention clearly understood attention is directed to the peculiar construction of the valve controlling parts which are employed for insuring the action of the valve so that the same will dependably open to admit the power medium to the cylinder sufficient to bring the fender down instantly even though the subsidiary valve, or disk, be but slightly moved as might possibly happen should the operator fail to swerve the valve handle enough to make a full opening of the valve 7 for an emergency application of the brakes. More specifically, this safe-guarding is had through the disparity of the areas of the pistons 28 and 29 so that even a small quantity of compressed air being admitted above the former it will progressively open the valve to admit a flow of the power to the cylinder.

The advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity, reliability and its being at all times available for use and, as a matter of fact, put into operation without any special thought upon the part of the operator whenever the service of the fender is in demand.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is

1. In apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination with an air reservoir, a power cylinder, air conducting pipes betweenthe reservoir and the cylinder, and an air-brake valve handle, of a valve, a spring actuating upon the valve to normally prevent the air passing to the cylinder through said pipe, means controlled by the action of said handle whereby the opening of said valve is accomplished by the pressure of the air from said reservoir.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a containing case for a valve provided with upper lower and intermediate chambers said intermediate chamber being rovided with an airexhaust-port and two like ports being also provided in the casecover, in combination with a spring-pressed valve acting to normally close communication between said intermediate and lower chambers, a piston in said upper chamber, a piston in said intermediate chamber, connections between the valve and the pistons whereby they will operate in unison, a disk in said upper chamber provided with an aperture and a depression arranged to coact with cavities and passages of the containing case whereby'the valve may be predeterminately controlled to admit air under pressure to effect the opening of the communication between said lower chamber and the intermediate chamber and also efiect the closing of the exhaust-port in the latter.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a fender, springs acting to raise and retain the same in an elevated position, a reservoir for comand means actuated by the movement of said handle whereby the opening of the second named valve is accomplished through the medium of the compressed air.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a fender hinged to a car, springs serving to resiliently maintain said fender in its raised position, an air reservoir, a pipe leading from said reservoir, a valve for controlling the flow of compressed air from the reservoir for applying brakes to the car, a handle for regulatingthe action of said valve, a ower cylinder, pipe connections between t e cylinder and the first named pipe, a piston within the cylinder, a rod therefor, a lever operatively connected to said rod, a guide for the lever, a link including a spring connecting the lever with a chain, and said chain which is connected with said fender, of a casing Which is communicatively connected with both of the aforesaid pipes and provided with an upper chamber, a bottom chamber and an intermediate chamber, said last named chamber being provided with a port opening to the atmosphere, a cover for the casing provided with two apertures and three cavities, a rotatable disk within said upper chamber and provided with an aperture adapted to be brought into register with one of the apertures of the cover and likewise with one of the said cavities therein and through which communication is had with said first named pipe, said disk being also provided with a recess adapted to be moved to make communication between the other of said apertures in the cover and also with the adjacent cavity or between this cavity and another cavity in the cover, said last mentioned cavities being respectively in communication with the upper and intermediate said chambersfan arm externally of the casing for actuating said disk, stops for intercepting the travel of said arm to limit the movement of said disk, a piston in said upper chamber, a piston in said intermediate chamber, a valve in said bottom chamber, and a spindle fixedly connected to the two last named pistons and with the last named valve.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a fender hinged to a car, springs serving to resiliently maintain said fender in its raised position, an air reservoir, a pipe leading from said reservoir, a

valve for controlling the flow of compressed air from the -reservoir for applying the brakes to the car, a handle for regulating the action of said valve, a power cylinder, pipe connection between the cylinder and the first named pipe, a piston within the cylinder, a rod therefor, a lever operatively con nected to said rod, a guide for the lover, a link including a spring connecting the lever with a chain, and said chain. which is connected with said fender, of a casing which is communicatively connected with both of the aforesaid pipes and provided with an upper chamber, a bottom chamber and an intermediate chamber, said last named chamber being provided with a port opening to the atmosphere, a cover for the casing provided with two apertures and three cavities, a rotatable disk within said upper chamber and provided with an apertureadapted to be brought into register with one of the apertures of the cover and likewise with one of the cavities therein and through which com munication is had with said first named pipe, said disk being also provided with a recess adapted to be moved to make communication between the other of said apertures in the cover and also with the adjacent cavity or between the cavity and another cavity in the cover, said last mentioned cavities being respectively in communication with the upper and intermediate said chambers, means to actuate said disk, a piston in said upper chamber, a piston in said intermediate chamber, a valve in said bottom chamber, a spindle fixedly connected to the two last named pistons and with the last named valve, and a spring acting against the underside of the piston in the said upper chamber.

6. In apparatus of the character described,

4 the combination with afender hinged to a car,

springs serving to resiliently maintain said fender in its raised position, an air reservoir,

a pipe leading from said reservoir, a valve for controlling the flow of compressed air from the reservoir for applying the brakes to the car, a handle for regulating the action of said valve, a power cylinder, pipe connecting the cylinder and the first named pipe, a piston within. the cylinder, mechanical connections between said piston and said. fender, of a casing which is communicatively connected with. both of the aforesaid pipes and provided with an upper chamber, a bottom chamber and an intermediate chamber, said last named chamber being provided with a port opening to the atmosphere, a cover for the casing provided with two apertures and three cavities, a rotatable disk within said upper chamber, and provided with an aperture adapted to be brought into register with one of the apertures of the cover and likewise with one of said cavities therein and through which communication is had with said first named pipe, said diskbeing also provided with a recess adapted to be moved to makecommunication between the other of said apertures in the cover and also with the adjacent cavity or between this cavity and another cavity in the cover, said last mentioned cavities being respectively in communication with the upper and intermediate said chambers, means to actuate said disk, a

piston in said upper chamber, a piston in said intermediate chamber, a valve in said bottom chamber, a spindle fixedly connected to the last named pistons and with the last named valve, and a spring acting against the under-v side of the piston in said upper chamber.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a casing rovided with an upper chamber, a bottom c iamber and an intermediate chamber, said last named chamber being provided with a port opening to the atmosphere, a cover for the casing provided with two apertures and three cavities, a rotatable disk within said upper chamber and provided with an aperture adapted to be brought into register with one of the apertures of the cover and likewise with one of said cavities therein and through which communication is had with said first named pipe, said disk being also provided with a recess adapted to be cavity and another cavity in the cover, said last mentioned cavities being respectively in communication with the upper and intermediate said chambers, an arm externally of the casing for actuating said disk, stops for intercepting the travel of said armto limit the movement of the disk, a piston in said upper chamber, a piston in said intermediate chamber, a valve in said bottom chamber, a

spindle fixedly connected to the two last' named pistons and with the last named valve, and a spring acting against the underside of the piston in said u per chamber.

8. In apparatus of the c aracter described, a casing provided with an upper chamber, a

bottom chamber and an intermediate'chamber, said last named chamber being provided with a port opening to the atmosphere, a

cover for the casing provided with two apertures and three cavities, a rotatable disk within said upper chamber, and provided with an aperture adapted to be brought into register with one of the apertures of the cover and likewise with one of the cavities therein and throu h which communication is had with said first named pipe, said disk being also provided with a recess adapted to be moved to make communication between the other of said apertures in the cover and also with the adjacent cavity or between this disk, a piston in said upper chamber, a piston In testimony whereof We affix our signain said intermediate chamber, a valve in said tures in presence of tWo Witnesses. bottom chamber, a spindle fixedly connected SMITH S. JOHNSON.

to the two last named pistons and with the HENRY A. THOMPSON. 5 last named valve, and a spring acting against Witnesses:

the underside of the piston in said upper PIERRE BARNES,

chamber. I E. H. ALVORD. 

